The University of Padua was founded in 1222 and has a long tradition and great reputation in anatomic studies. The scientific freedom and political wisdom of the Serenissima Republic of Venice, as well as the flourishing trade and cultural, social, and political life of Venice in the latter half of the 15th century attracted many scientists and students from around Europe to Padua. These scientists and students then contributed to the establishment of Padua as an international center for culture and science. Venice allowed the use of cadavers for anatomical dissection and anatomists at Padua did their own dissections, which was a radical way of teaching at the time, but both contributed immensely to the advancement of anatomy.   Sources: https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/30/6/629/642373/Padua-University-The-role-it-has-played-in-the & https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15458582 Image: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)